title: Coxiellosis/Q fever in cats: ABCD guidelines on prevention and management.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Q fever is a zoonotic disease caused by Coxiella burnetii. Farm animals and pets are the main reservoirs of infection.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Cats become infected by ingestion or inhalation of organisms from contaminated carcases of farm animals, or tick bites. Infection is common, as shown by several serological studies.
  
  
  METHODS
  Experimentally, fever, anorexia and lethargy have been noted. In the field, infection usually remains subclinical. Abortion might occur. C burnetii has been isolated from the placenta of aborting cats, but also from cats experiencing normal parturition.
  
  
  METHODS
  Infection with C burnetii can be diagnosed by isolation of the agent or serology.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Most important is the potential zoonotic risk. Cats suspected of having been exposed to C burnetii might shed organisms during parturition. Wearing gloves and a mask when attending parturient or aborting cats can minimise the risk of infection. Tick prevention is recommended.
authors.affiliation: European Advisory Board on Cat Diseases. h.f.egberink@uu.nl
authors.forename: Herman
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Egberink
authors.forename: Diane
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Addie
authors.forename: Sándor
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Belák
authors.forename: Corine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Boucraut-Baralon
authors.forename: Tadeusz
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Frymus
authors.forename: Tim
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Gruffydd-Jones
authors.forename: Katrin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hartmann
authors.forename: Margaret J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Hosie
authors.forename: Albert
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lloret
authors.forename: Hans
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Lutz
authors.forename: Fulvio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Marsilio
authors.forename: Karin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Möstl
authors.forename: Maria Grazia
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Pennisi
authors.forename: Alan D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Radford
authors.forename: Etienne
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Thiry
authors.forename: Uwe
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Truyen
authors.forename: Marian C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Horzinek
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002371:Cat Diseases / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D002415:Cats; D011778:Q Fever / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000662:veterinary*